Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Drought Relief Obtained Using Government Help Today Act of 2024 or the DROUGHT Act of 2024.
Section 2. Federal assistance for certain water infrastructure projects
Section 5029(b)(9) of the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act of 2014 (33 U.S.C. 3908(b)(9)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(i) Projects in States experiencing severe drought
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Administrator may finance up to 90 percent of the costs of a project described in paragraph (6) or (7) of section 5026 located in—
(I) a State that has been designated as D2 (severe drought) or greater according to the United States Drought Monitor for a minimum of 4 weeks during any of the 3 years preceding the date on which assistance is provided for the project under this subtitle; or
(II) a county for which a drought emergency has been declared by the applicable Governor at any time during the 3-year period preceding that date.
(ii) Projects in historically disadvantaged communities
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), the Administrator may finance up to 90 percent of the costs of a project described in paragraph (6) or (7) of section 5026 that serves a community that—
(I) is designated as disadvantaged, underserved, or financially distressed by—
(aa) the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool of the Council on Environmental Quality; or
(bb) the Administrator pursuant to a water infrastructure program of the Environmental Protection Agency, including water infrastructure grant programs, clean water and drinking water grant programs, and other grant programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) and the Federal Water Protection Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); or
(II) meets the affordability criteria established by a State pursuant to section 1452(d)(3) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j–12(d)(3)) or section 603(i)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(i)(2)).
(iii) Priority
In carrying out this subparagraph, the Administrator shall prioritize financing for projects that—
(I) are located in a State that is experiencing severe drought, as described in subclause (I) of clause (i), or a county for which a drought emergency has been declared, as described in subclause (II) of that clause; and
(II) serve a community that is designated as disadvantaged, underserved, or financially distressed, or meets affordability criteria established by a State, as described in clause (ii).